Machine for making concrete blocks



- 7 1 644,066 J.-P. LAWLOR ET AL MACHINE FOR MAKING CONCRETE BLOCKSFiled'S ept. 1, 1926 -2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. P. LAWLOR ET AL MACHINE FORMAKING CONCRETE BLOCKS Filed Sept. 1, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedOct. 4, 1927.

UNIT ED STATES aosnrn r. ,LAWLdR/ AND m/ ns I 1,644,666 PATENT onic-1:.

. snail, or vinivirn s, Tennessee. 7

CQ NCRETE BLOCKS.

Application filed; September 1, 1926. Serial No. 132,940.

This invention has especial reference to a machine for making acomparatively short annular block, especially suitable-for use'as asection of a well strainer. The super-position of such blocks, one uponthe other,

therealong andthatjif such corrugations are a series of slots which 'arevery narrow at their outer edge or where theyopen through the surface,an enlarge nward from t hesurthe face, they providea better passage for,water.

The objects of our invention are primer ily, to make a machine whichwill accurately form these sections or umts and which will alsoaccurately form in such units aseries of inwardly enlarged slots, suchas those hereinabove described.

The means by which these and other o bje cts are accomplished and themanner of j their accomplishment will be more fully hereinafter setoutin the following description, on reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in Which;

vFig. 1 is a side elevation of our machine, the left half being insection on'the center line andthe right half in eleva'tion', show ingthe machine set ready for a block tobe cast therein, but with the topplate resting thereoninstead of remoyed as it worildbefor filling themold.

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan taken along the line IIII of Fig. 1. V

Fig. 3 is a side view on a larger scale of one of the groove forming orcore pins, and

Fig. 4: is a fragmentary section approximately full size taken on theline IIII of Fig. 1 with a portion of the stripper plate broken away toshow the plate thereunder.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicatedby numerals, 1 is the base of the machine from which columns 2 extendupward and support an annular member 3. Resting on this annular plateand secured thereto as by screws 4-, is a ring 5 having therethroughvertical holes 6 corresponding in number and spacingto the number andspacing of-the grooves which are to be formed in the concrete block.

-Dis'pose'd-within' each of these holes is acore pin-7.' 8 is an annularplate having a number of holes correspondingin'spacingto the holes inthe ring 5, the holesin the plate 8 beingshapedto conform to the crosssectiona'l shape cfthe cor-e pin 7. 'A similar plate 9embraces the pins7 at the upper surfaces of the ring '5. 10 are i ctaining pins one ofwhich passes'throug h the bottom of each of the core pins 7 immediatelybeneath the plate 8, the lower end of the pin 7thus being confinedbetween the plate 8 and the annular member 3. i 3

h Disposed above and resting onthering 5 is the bot-tom plate 11' oftheblock mold, the upper surface of this plate being shaped to conform tothe desired shape of the lower portion ofthe' block to be formedthe'reon.

I his plate 11 has holes '12 therethrough corresponding in number andspacing to those in thering 5 and carries at its upper edge a strippingplate 113 having a similar number of holes each shaped to'accuratelyconform to the cross section-of the core pin 7.

It'will of course be understood that the plates 8, 9 and 13 night bedispensed with and holes 6 and 12 inthering '5 and plate 11 be made'toconform to the shape l ofthe core pin should it be so desired. 'Theplates however have been introduced in this construction because "of:the greater facility with which theopenings therein jmay be shaped toconform to the rod section, v and forthe further re'asonj that shoulditbe so 'desired,'they may be tempered or'hardened,

this being especially desirable in the strip- ,ping plfate 13f jwhich issubjected 'to. very consider-able wear ,whei the 'pins are with- 1 1 isan inner form preferably sectional and having a true cylindrical outersurface and 15 a holding member therefor. 16 is an outer form having aninner cylindrical surface preferably just touching the outer dge 7 ofthe core pin 7. The outer form 16 may be made in a number of sectionsand secured in place by a retaining ring 17. 18 is an annular top plateshaped to conform to the desired upper end of the annular block to beformed. 19 is a cylindrical table hereinafter designated as a raisingtable, into which table are secured guide rods 20 which pass throughsuitable guiding holes in the memher 3. The lower ends of these guiderods are secured to an annular plate 21 which is provided with suitableholes which are adapted to embrace the supporting rods 2 so that theplate 21 may slide on and be guided. by these rods. 22 is a central postprojecting' downward from the plate 19 and resting on some form ofraising means such as a screw jack 28 by which the table 19 may beraised and lowered.

Referring to Fig. 4 of the drawing, it will be seen that the crosssection of the pins is roughly that of a sharply pointed egg with thethin side 7 outward, and preferably in contact, with the inner surfaceof the mold. In Fig. 3 it will be seen that the pins each have astraight outer side 7 and that the upper ends thereof are of reducedarea. Preferably the tapering of the pins is confined to the upper half,being that part which lies within the mold and forms the cores for thegrooves in the blocks.

In operation the raising table 19 is lowered until the bottom 11 of themold rests on the ring 5 with the core pins extending to the top of themold and with -their outer edges touching the inner surface of the outerform 16. The top plate 18 is removed. The mold is then filled withrather dry concrete, preferably a mixture of sand and cement only withlittle or no coarse particles, which is thoroughly tamped into placebetween and surrounding the core pins and is leveled off and shaped withthe top plate, such material being added or removed as may be necessaryto allow this plate to seat solidly and yet the entire surface of theblock to be smooth.

When this is satisfactorily completed the jack is operated and the moldraised to withdraw the pins longitudinally from the mold and block. Theforms are then stripped from the block, and it is removed to a storageand curing room where such further treatment is given as may be desired.

It will of course be understood that the mold may be supported and thepins be lowered to withdraw them should it be so de sired.

I It will further be understood that any desired method of filling themold may be used, such for instance as with concrete placed bycentrifugal force in any usual and well known manner.

It will further be understood that the drawings are illustrative onlyandthat various chan es in detail ma be made and we u,

wish it distinctly understood that we do not wish to be limited to suchdetails except as they may be set out specifically in the claims.

Having now fully disclosed the invention, what we claim is 1. In amachine for molding concrete blocks, the combination with means forshaping the exterior surfaces of a block, of means for formingchannel-ways adjacent a surface of said block, comprising a plurality ofpins, each having one thin side, disposed within said shaping means,with said thin sides ly ing along and in contact with a shaping surface,and means for withdrawing said pins from said mold.

2. In a machine for molding concrete blocks, a mold comprising a bottomform and side forms, a plurality of pins projecting through said bottomform into said mold, means for withdrawing said pins from said mold, andmeans for stripping said pins.

3. In a machine for molding concrete blocks, a mold having a bottom formand a cylindrical side form, and means for forming open channel-waysadjacent a surface of said block, comprising a plurality of egg-shapedpins projecting through said bottom form into said mold each of saidpins having its thin side in contact with said side form, and means forwithdrawing said pins longitudinally from said mold.

4. In a machine for molding concrete blocks, a mold comprising abottomform and side forms, a plurality of pins secured to a common plate andprojecting from said plate through said bottom form into said mold, saidbottom form closely embracing said pins, whereby they will be cleanedon.

removal, and means for separating said plate and bottom form to removesaid pins from said mold.

In testimony of the foregoing, we affix our signatures.

JOSEPH P. LAWLOR. JAMES I. SEAY.

